[Nikki]

I thought the stuff we had was scary enough!

Japan marine park captures rare shark on film
‘Living fossil’ species has changed little since prehistoric times


TOKYO - A species of shark rarely seen alive because its natural habitat is 2,000 feet or more under the sea was captured on film by staff at a Japanese marine park this week.

The Awashima Marine Park in Shizuoka, south of Tokyo, was alerted by a fisherman at a nearby port on Sunday that he had spotted an odd-looking eel-like creature with a mouthful of needle-sharp teeth.

Marine park staff caught the 5-foot long creature, which they identified as a female frilled shark, sometimes referred to as a “living fossil” because it is a primitive species that has changed little since prehistoric times.
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The shark appeared to be in poor condition when park staff moved it to a seawater pool where they filmed it swimming and opening its jaws.

“We believe moving pictures of a live specimen are extremely rare,” said an official at the park. “They live between 600 and 1,000 meters under the water, which is deeper than humans can go.”

A rare frilled shark swims in a tank in Numazu, Japan, earlier this week.
“We think it may have come close to the surface because it was sick, or else it was weakened because it was in shallow waters,” the official said.

The shark died a few hours after being caught.

Frilled sharks, which feed on other sharks and sea creatures, are sometimes caught in the nets of trawlers but are rarely seen alive.
Copyright 2007 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters.

That thing is freaking creepy looking!




http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16785254/from/RS.1/

[18LLC]

yea, i just watch that video too. video is better looking than pic, tho.

[Corey]

For some reason I don't think you have to worry about a shark that lives 2,000 feet deep.

[Bimmerista]

Yeah..... i would be more vorried about waste washing ashore, medusa infestations and those modern sharks which sometimes come too close to shore

[KL2DC]

Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water...dum-dum-dum-dum-dum-dum (theme from Jaws) ....

[Driv3r]

once i went surfing in sebastian inlet, and there were sharks all over the place, most are harmless, we would see them stick their fins out once and a while about 500ft away...
Then another time it happened less than 15ft away and we scrambled out of the water and it apparently followed us all the way to shore, because it was hanging out RIGHT on the shore break....like less than a foot away from the sand....incredible animals, they should be respected.

[BMW F22]

it died because of global warming

[18LLC]

Originally Posted by BMWE90

it died because of global warming

you think so? shouldn't 1km under sea water always have same temp because the sun light can't go there?

[Josh49]

Originally Posted by BMWE90

it died because of global warming

[E91 Dude]

Originally Posted by BMWE90

it died because of global warming

<Puts on aluminum foil hat and shudders>

[Nikki]

Originally Posted by E91 Dude

<Puts on aluminum foil hat and shudders>

hahaha

[MonacoBimm]

once, while we were trolling in deep ocean, we saw sharks swimming around with their fins up, must have been at least three. They wee very very near from the boat.

[///Matt]

I feel sad now, watching it die on film. (not actually die, but dying)

[NaTuReB0Y]

Godzilla will eat that thing alive.......what's so scary about that?

[aapriadi]

Originally Posted by NaTuReB0Y

Godzilla will eat that thing alive.......what's so scary about that?

the chinese will eat that thing first before godzilla...godzilla will then get the leftover bones

[Couch]

The Lake > The Ocean

But the fish in the ocean are cooler than the lake.

[BMW F22]

Originally Posted by NaTuReB0Y

what's so scary about that?

+1
Now what's really scary are those tiny jelly fish (forgot what they're called). Their stings kill people. Even if the victim is treated right away, he/she would still suffer for days.


EDIT> it's the thumbnail sized Irukandji Jellyfish.

[NaTuReB0Y]

Originally Posted by BMWE90

+1
Now what's really scary are those tiny jelly fish (forgot what they're called). Their stings kill people. Even if the victim is treated right away, he/she would still suffer for days.

box jellyfish........now, that's scary!